HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Tyson announced that it will require all employees at US office locations to be fully vaccinated by October 1. All other employees will be required to be fully vaccinated by November 1.
The requirement is subject to ongoing discussions with locations represented by unions. It would include the two Tyson plants in Hutchinson and South Hutchinson. Exceptions to the vaccination mandate will involve workers who seek medical or religious accommodation.
With the action taken, Tyson becomes the largest U.S. food company to require COVID-19 vaccinations for its entire workforce. Almost half of Tyson Foods’ U.S. workforce has been vaccinated and coronavirus infection rates among team members remain low according to a release from Tyson.
Meat packing plants were hard hit by the pandemic in 2020 forcing some processing facilities to shut down. The shutdown produced a scare that meat would be in short supply.
Tyson says it has hosted more than 100 vaccination events for its employees across the country and more than 56,000 have been vaccinated so far in the US. The company is offering a $200 bonus for those getting vaccinated.
The company says it has spent more than $700 million related to COVID-19, including on efforts to combat its spread, such as buying masks, face shields and temperature scanners, installing protective barriers and providing on-site testing and vaccinations.
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